Westfield Lions wrap up Dictionary Project

Total of 810 third graders now have their own dictionaries

Submitted by Westfield Lions Club

On Friday, Oct. 17, the Westfield Lions Club completed its annual dictionary delivery project by passing out 130 dictionaries to Maple Glen Elementary School third graders. It was the last of six stops the Lions made to deliver Webster dictionaries to all the third graders in the Westfield school system.

This is the 12th year the Westfield club has participated in the “Dictionary Project” – a nationwide effort to distribute free dictionaries to third-grade students. The Dictionary Project was started in Georgia in 1992 and since then more than 31 million children all over the U.S. have received dictionaries. The program has been adopted and refined by individuals, businesses, and civic organizations all over the country, including the Westfield Lions Club.

The Westfield Lions purchase the dictionaries from the Dictionary Project and then schedule deliveries with each of the elementary school principals. The Lions have been well received by the students, teachers, and principals.

“It’s a lot of fun for us Lions to visit with all of these third graders and give them a little background on what the Lions Club is all about,” said Lion Jeff Larrison, chair of the Westfield Lions Dictionary Project. “Some of the students have heard about us and our programs or have been to our community center for an event. And it makes our day to see how excited they get when they find out they each are getting their very own dictionaries.”

Over the past 12 years the club has presented almost 800 dictionaries to Westfield third graders. Now that the Lions have been at this for a while, they are now recognized by kids and families around the community while out in public in their Lions Club shirts. The Lions are often referred to as the “book guys.”

Distributing dictionaries is just one of the many ways the Lions support local schools and students. Each year, the Lions contribute thousands of dollars to the Westfield Education Foundation, Westfield Theater & Choir Boosters, scholarships for WHS seniors, WHS Culinary Arts Program, sponsoring students to attend class trips and conferences, and paying for eye exams and glasses for students in need.

There are also so many other ways the Lions provide support to Westfield students, including sponsoring local scout troops, contributing to the Open Doors Weekend Food Bag program for students in need, contributing to the Heart & Soul Free Clinic, and numerous other projects and programs.

The Westfield Lions Club has been serving the citizens of Westfield and Hamilton County since 1930. They welcome men and women interested in making a difference in the community. For more information about the Westfield Lions Club, including finding out how to become a member, visit westfieldlions.org.